Advent...A Season of Miracles & Blessings

For me, the Season of Advent is the most special and beautiful time of all before Christmas.  I have even foregone much of the traditional Christmas shopping, and try to stay away from crowds and crazy malls.  It is in the most peaceful and quiet moments that I try to savour the beauty and wonder of Christmas coming.


When I think of the celebrations of Christmas, my very favorite time is that of Advent, the days and weeks leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day.  Our family has always loved pulling out our Advent Wreath, and placing it in the center of our dining room table, on the first Sunday of Advent.  

Last Sunday, we lit the first candle, the candle of "Hope", on our Advent wreath.  In years past, when our children were growing up, we always lit the candles for each week, every night after supper, and read from an Advent devotional, and then sung one of our favorite Christmas hymns.  It was a very special and blessed time for all of us, and now, my husband and I continue to enjoy the daily Advent reading, lighting of the candles and singing a Christmas hymn together.  


"Hope in Hard Times" was the title of one of the daily Advent devotionals this week.  "How appropriate", I recalled  saying to my husband.  In these very difficult times, sometimes it is not an easy thing to 'keep on hoping and praying', because we feel so helpless at times to make a difference, but we know that when we have faith and hope, and trust that our prayers are being heard, we have everything.  We have HOPE for today and tomorrow and for the future.  For with God, "all things are possible."



Although a little later than I had hoped to start some of my Christmas stitching,  I have enjoyed pulling out some of my JCS Ornament Issues, as well as the current 2011 one, and started this piece this week.  

"Christmas Joy"
By Cherished Stitches
JCS 2009 Ornament Issue

  I apologize for not having more to show you this time, but after Thanksgiving,  it was time to put things away after all of the company went home.  I had already picked out the ornaments that I would love to stitch, so it was just time spent "shopping in my closet" for the right linens and threads.  Now, at last, I can settle in with my favorite cups of tea, and stitch away to my heart's content!  

As this week comes to a close today and a new week dawns tomorrow, may you be blessed with the hope, peace, faith and love of Advent in your hearts and homes everywhere.


Blessings To You, My Dear Friends! 

GIVING THANKS

Today, all across America, in millions of homes, we celebrated a very special day of Thanksgiving, as we joined together, with our dear families and friends, enjoying our traditional Turkey dinners, complimented by the fruits of our abundant harvests.  


As my husband and I prepared our Thanksgiving dinner, I kept humming the first line of a favorite hymn, which holds my true feelings of  thankfulness for the abundant blessings of God:  "Give thanks with a grateful heart....." It is truly, with a very grateful heart, that I am thankful for a very loving God, who blesses us greatly in so many ways, too numerous to count.  


Over the past weeks, as I attempted to enjoy some quiet hours working  two of my favorite autumn pieces, my arthritis flared up in my right hand, and it was so painful taking any stitches at all.  Using a heat pack to warm up my hand, so that I could get some relief, I was able to stitch, but my progress was slow for almost a week.  Hence, "Gobble" is only three quarters finished.

"Gobble"
Plum Street Samplers

I decided to find a clever way to display my "Work in Progress", by folding it over the frame in which it will be placed when it is truly finished.  After all, Mr. "Gobble" must be proudly displayed on Thanksgiving!

  Mr. "Gobble", amidst two favorite Autumn Harvest pieces.


As the day draws to a close, the turkey and a wonderful assortment of goodies are put away, it is time to finally rest from the days' events of memories with those so dear to us.  And once again, I pause, and "give thanks, Oh Lord, with my whole heart!" (Psalm 138:1)


Blessings to you, dear friends, wherever you are at this moment, and every day hereafter.

THE AUTUMN LEAVES DRIFT PAST MY WINDOW....

"The autumn leaves drift past my window, the autumn leaves of red and gold..."  In case you haven't guessed, autumn is one of my very favorite seasons.  I love the beautiful changing colours of all the autumn leaves, the crisp, woody, fruited scents that fill the air, and the blessings of God's most bountious harvest.  Hence comes my inspiration to stitch a variety of autumn themed needlework over the years.  This year is no different!

Mary McLenon-Turley's "Autumn Harvest"
Just Cross-Stitch Magazine (Sept./October 2011)

Bringing in Lacy Corn Stalks

Oh, The Glorious Colors of Autumn!


This is a really enjoyable piece to stitch because it features some specialty stitches  and some wonderful overdyed threads for a real boost of colour!  It can be finished as a framed piece or a needleroll.  Watch for further updates to see how I will be finishing this great autumn piece.


This weekend my husband and I took a road trip to visit a new needlework shop, which was fun, and, of course, I came home with some new stash.  Just couldn't resist.  You know how that goes:)  Here are my newest acquisitions.  

Of course, my heart's desire is to be able to stitch all of these beauties in time for Christmas.  While  I realize that is beyond realistic, it will be great fun to fill some special hours with the sheer joy of peacefully stitching whatever I am able to accomplish.  


Savoring the sweetness of Advent before Christmas is really my very favorite time of the Christmas Season.  For it is in the anticipation of the celebration of the birth of our Precious Savior, that the truest joy on earth can be found.


May you be blessed this week with the many blessings of God that we all share.  
"For I take joy in doing your will, my God.  For your law is written on my heart"
(Psalm 40:8)


Until our lives cross one another once again....
Crossing in Stitches & Blessings With You!

Some Special Gifts and a Little Stitching....

There are some special "fringe benefits" of having a snowstorm, and one of my favorites is that it allows me to have uninterrupted, guilt-free stitching time!  That is, if the power doesn't go out inside! We lost power here for about 12 hours, and were among the more fortunate in our state.  There are still countless homes, businesses and schools without any power, who will not have it restored until the weekend, according to news reports.  Yes, we had 9.2 inches of heavy snow on Sunday in Massachusetts!  

So, I finished "Jenny Bean" at long last, and she is in the process of being stretched and then framed. I will show my finished piece soon!  Here is some more progress on "My Lovely Stitching Tools" (Gift of Stitching Mystery Sampler).

I also made some progress on one of my WIP's, "Gobble" by Plum Street Samplers.

Amidst all of the busyness of enjoying my giveaway last week, I also received some sweet little gifts from two stitching friends.


One afternoon, my husband came home from work, carrying the mail, and held up a little package from my new stitching friend, June!  It contained a lovely thank you card, (for some charts that I recently sent to her), a wonderful Country Vintage 2012 Bookmark Calendar, and two beautiful skeins of Dragon Floss.  The most special part of these lovely threads are their names: "Blessings""Generosity".  I can tell you, that these sweet gifts touched my heart beyond measure!  Thank you, dear June, for your thoughtfulness!

On the same day that June's lovely gifts arrived, my long-time friend, and stitching companion, Ellen came for lunch and an afternoon of stitching.  She had recently returned from a trip to Japan with her husband, daughter and son-in-law.  She brought me the book that she read on her trip because she knows that I love Catherine Cookson's novels too, and the cutest little bag I have ever seen.

Isn't this just amazing?  That tiny little bag contains a wonderful fold-out silken shopping bag!  So, you can carry the tiny little bag in your purse when you go shopping and just open it up to hold all of your treasures!  I think that this will be wonderful for almost any shopping trip, but definitely for my trips to my LNS too!

Wherever you are, I hope that this finds you well and warm, and that this week is filled with blessings that will lighten your spirit, lift the loads that you must carry and bless you and your loved ones, in whatever needs you may have in your hearts and homes. You are very special to me and I am so thankful for the "threads" that join us all together!

Crossing in Stitches & Blessings With You!

AUTUMN GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

ANNOUNCING A WINNER FOR MY AUTUMN GIVEAWAY!  
While I keep everyone in suspense a few minutes longer..... I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming response I have had to this giveaway, my very first as you all know.  Every day there were more stitchers who shared the very special meaning that stitching has for them in their own individual lives, and it was wonderful reading all of them.  There were 67 entries, from, not only the USA, but from countries all around the world!  I was really happily amazed!  

The Names Are All in the Basket!!

Who Will the Lucky Winner Be?

Dear Husband, Bruce, Picks Out the Winning Name!

So, now for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:  THE WINNER IS: Abbie!  Congratulations!  Please send me your mailing address so that I can send your stitching goodies to you!


Thank you, dear friends for following my stitching blog and for all of the wonderful comments you share with me here.  I appreciate them so very much:)


Until next time....Crossing in Stitches With You!

THOUGHTS ON A FRIDAY EVENING.....

This week has flown by, and honestly, I can't even tell you exactly where the days have gone, but already it is Friday night!    I am so thrilled with all of the wonderful response to my October Giveaway,  that I have received from so many wonderful stitchers around the world.  They have shared their sweet sentiments about how their stitching makes such a special difference in their lives.....all of these beautiful threads connecting us all to one another.  The winner will be chosen next Friday, October 28th!


Here is my progress, so far this week, on my SAL, "My Lovely Sewing Tools" from The Gift of Stitching" Mystery Sampler.  

I love the rustic taupe threads in this piece.  Aren't those little scissors cute?


Jo , who is one of my SAL friends, posted today on her blog about having a carpet on which almost anything small can get easily lost.  I chuckled when I read her post, because I have a similar problem.....  We have more in common with one another than we would have ever guessed:)

Well, before I lose my needle on this carpet again,  I think that it is time to pick up my stitching again tonight before I head for bed, and take a few more stitches in my SAL or Jenny Bean.  They both need my attention.


Hope that you enjoy this beautiful autumn weekend.  The foliage is jut starting to turn color here, and the air is crisp, cool and supposed to be a little sunny by Sunday.  


Crossing in Stitches With You, Dear Friends!

Today is a very cold and rainy October day.  I can hear the torrents of rain beating down on the roof.  Brrrrrr!
I can't seem to get warm, so donned one of my favorite warm knitted pair of slacks and a sweater, but still feel chilled to the bone.  Time to make a fresh pot of tea!

Yes, I am still lingering on finishing Jenny Bean, but I do have a good excuse for lagging behind.  I had a nasty illness last week and was on antibiotics.  I was just so exhausted and every time I picked up my needle to stitch, I would fall asleep and wake up still holding my needle!  It was a good effort, but needless to say, did not produce great results.  

This week I received this wonderful set of designs from June (http://www.butterfly-butterflywings.blogspot.com).   How kind of you, June to send them to me!  I can't wait to stitch one of them very soon!  These are such delightful French designs by Dany (http://dany88.canalblog.com)

With my spirits bolstered, I resolved to start "My Lovely Stitching Tools" mystery sampler, from the Gift of Stitching.  I am stitching this as a SAL, with Jo and Clare, which is already a lot of fun.  Not a lot of progress this week, but it is a start!

AND NOW, FOR THE REALLY BIG NEWS:  MY VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY!!

Giveaway Drawing on October 28th!

Since starting my stitching blog, I have received so many wonderful comments, and have made some very dear "blogger friends".  It is just so special to connect with all of you with the "threads" that connect each one of us to one another, intertwining our lives, our stories, our joys and sometimes our sorrows, all of which make up our own lives.

To Enter My Giveaway, Please:  
1.  Become a follower, (if you are not already one)
2. Share something about your love of stitching.
3. Please post about my giveaway on your blog, and write a comment to let me know too!


I am so excited about having my first giveaway, and I hope that it will be great fun, hearing from everyone!  On October 28th, the winner will be selected and I will post the name of the winner.  Good Luck Everyone!


It is such a joy to share with all of you. Your kind and thoughtful comments mean a lot to me.  Have a lovely, "stitchy" weekend!


Crossing in Stitches With You!
                                                      

Finally Finished!

At long last, my "Birds of A Feather" Mystery Sampler has returned from the framer.  Oh happy day!  

"Birds of a Feather"

Designer: Brenda Gervais

(With Thy Needle & Thread)

Just love the house and cute sheep!

It has been rather humid here this week, even though the temperatures were in the 70's.  I didn't feel much like stitching very much most days, but did manage to make some progress on Jenny Bean though, and hope to finish her up this weekend.

 I enjoyed stitching the flowers and these darling little bees!


Ah, for the cool, crisp days of autumn....puts me right in the mood for making a nice crock pot of my favorite soup and some muffins, and settling into my "stitching nest" for some quiet hours of stitching.  


This is one of my favorite soup recipes:  "Eggplant Minestrone". (Too Many Tomatoes, by Burrows & Myers)          


2 Tbsp. olive oil                                            
1 Large chopped onion
1& 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 cloves minced garlic
1 medium eggplant (diced)                            
3 diced zucchini
3 diced carotts                                                                                   
2 diced stalks celery
1 large can of diced tomatoes                     
 1 tsp. dried oregano
1 & 1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
4 cups beef stock
1/2 cup small elbow macaroni   
     
*Saute 1st 5 ingredients in large soup kettle until tender.  Stir in remaining  vegetables, beef stock, herbs, sugar and pepper.   Cook in kettle  slightly covered for 1-2 hours until vegetables are tender. 
Add macaroni in last 20 minutes.
If cooking soup in crock pot, after sauteing 1st 5 ingredients,  put into crock pot with all other ingredients, (as above).  Simmer soup all day on "low" for 8-10 hours.   Add macaroni in last 30 minutes to crock pot and cook on "high".      
                                                                                      
When our youngest son, Nathan was little, he proclaimed this to be "the best soup you ever made in your whole life, Mom!"  Such sweet memories....


Apparently, here in New England, this weekend, we are to have one of those gloriously cool, but sunny autumn weekends here!  Sounds like I had better gather in supplies for my soup!  Wherever you live, I hope that you have a lovely weekend and some time for stitching.....what else!!


Crossing in Stitches Again With You!

WON'T YOU PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A SAL?

Since my last positng, I have heard from several of my followers, who suggested to me that they thought I should consider stitching "My Lovely Stitching Tools", as my next stitching project because they loved this design too!  This led me to start thinking that a SAL might be fun, since it seemed that there were others that might like to stitch along with me!  As I mentioned in my last post, this is  a current Mystery Sampler design being offered through The Gift of Stitching.  So dear friends,  I would like to extend an invitation to you, to consider joining me and a few other stitching friends ends for a SAL! 

This wonderful Mystery Sampler is offered through The Gift of Stitching's online monthly magazine.  Part I of the sampler is in the August 2011 issue.  If you are not currently a subscriber toThe Gift of Stitching, monthly issues can be purchased at their website (http://www.giftofstitching.com).  

 I chose Weeks Dye Works and Sampler Threads instead of the recommended Valdani threads.

If you don't have a blog, and would like to participate, please email pictures of your Mystery Sampler progress and I will be happy to include them with updates of our SAL on my blog so that we can all share in the fun!  I will also post a link on my Facebook page so that pictures can be posted there as well.  More fun!  Hope that you will join us for a wonderful SAL!

Back to Stitching With You And Me

It feels so good to pick up my needle and thread again.  Nothing soothes my soul more than when I take up my linen and place some new stitches in my latest work in progress.  So it is, that Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler is taking it's final steps toward being finished soon.  Here is my latest work on her.

                                 My Progress So Far & More To Come!

Isn't this just the cutest little cow?

Love this sweet flower!

Already I find my mind wandering, as I ponder which new design I will stitch next.  There are just so many in my stash calling out to me.  Here are some of them.

                                                   "Oh Christmas Day" 
                            by Janie Huble of Cat's Whisker's Designs
                                                (The Gift of Stitching)

   32 Count Raw "Sparkle" Linen

                                                    Dinkey Dyes Silks
                                                  Mill Hill Seed Beads

                   "My Lovely Sewing Tools" Mystery Sampler
                                            (The Gift of Stitching)
                                                  By Maria Suarez

                                            36 Count Edinboro Flax
                                         Weeks Dye Works Threads
                                              (My choice of threads)


Hmmmm....What a decision.  We'll see what suits my stitching heart's mood when I finish stitching Jenny Bean.  


It is so nice to be able to be in touch with all of my dear stitchy bloggy friends again.  Meggie, (our spoiled toy poodle), says it's time to rest now.  

Thank to all of you, for your sweet comments.  They brighten every day!

My exciting news for today is that I am the lucky recipient of some very special giveaway gifts, from Ellen (http://www.ellen-xstitch-passion.blogspot.com), whose gifts came all the way from Singapore!  Just look at these wonderful gifts! Thank you so very much, Ellen!

                                         C Street Samplerworks Historic
                                                       Reproduction of
                                                "I SIGH NOT FOR BEAUTY"
  The Spring 2011 Sampler & Antique Needlework 
  (Which includes the beautiful "Susan Ramboe " Sampler)
Lovely Flower Ribbon, Silk Marblethreads & Braided Trims
                        A Porcelain Thimble from Singapore


Tonight I wanted to take a few more stitches on "Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler", before I head off to bed.  

Tomorrow morning I head off to the hospital for some surgery, so will be a little out of commission for a few days.  Of course, every stitcher knows that it is absolutely essential to  make sure that all of  the stitching projects are all  kitted up and ready for some "recuperation" stitching, so I think that I am all set in that department.  Dear Husband will set up my laptop next to my recliner and I will be snug in my "stitching nest" with everything I need to be happy after I am ready to pick up my stitching and keep in touch with friends and family, and of course my dear blogger friends too!


All for now.  Nightie, night!  See you soon!


Crossing in Stitches & Friendship With You!

A DAY OF REMEMBERANCE, HEALING, AND HOPE FOR OUR COUNTRY

Today our hearts are deeply touched in rememberance of those whose lives were sacrificed on this day, ten years ago, in one of the most devastating terrorist attacks ever launched upon our country and its' people.  This was the image on the front page of a newspaper today.  The New York City night sky depicting the somberness, with two searing lights, representing the two fallen Twin Towers, reaching skyward against the the backdrop of night, reminding us every night of those whose lives were given on that fateful day.  

Our prayers continue for the families whose loved ones were lost so unexpectedly on September 11th, 2001.  But we pray that they will know that, when God allows such incredible suffering in our lives, He also provides His comforting love.  

"For His anger endureth but for a moment; 

In His favour is life:  for weeping may endure

For a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

(Psalm 30:5)

            The Hands of God Reach Down to Earth, to Hold Us, 
                     Comfort Us & Heal The Hearts of Our People


Isn't this an incredible picture.  It was sent to me from a friend and is a real photograph!  If you have ever doubted the existence of God, this image certainly looks strikingly like the hands of God, reaching down to earth, doesn't  it?  I printed this photograph out and have a full size on the cover of one of my notebooks.  Every time I look at it, I am so humbled.  


Ten years ago, on September 11, 2001, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing, when the first plane struck the first Twin Tower in New York City.  I had stayed home from work that morning because one of our sons was very sick and home from work.  Around 8:30 am, our son called to me from the family room, "Mom, come here quick!  You won't believe what I just saw!  An airplane just flew into a building in New York City!  We stood in front of the TV, with our mouths open in shock, and watched as the second plane flew into the second Twin Tower.  Holding each other, we stood there watching in horror, and then the terrifying circumstances that surrounded these horrible events began to be reported.  Our nation was under attack by terrorists!  We could barely take it all in that fateful day.   


In the days, weeks, and months that followed, our nation was so bonded together, as we mourned the deep sense of loss we all felt, for the thousands of Americans who lost their lives that day.  So senseless, shocking that it was almost unfathomable to absorb.  But one truth remains, no matter what kind of sorrow we have experienced, we know that, we are surrounded by the deep love and comfort of a loving and true God.    


Every year since that terrible and tragic day of great loss, I have read the scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14, and it comforts me.  
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land."  


May God bless the hearts and souls of those who have lost loved ones, as we remember our "fallen heroes", and may He lead our nation forward as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.  Amen.

Sorting through my quilt basket this week revealed some wonderful unfinished quilts that I decided needed to be finished, at long last.  I hate to admit how long it has been since I took any stitches in my quilts, but I decided that now is the time to finish them up!

My friend, Ellen, who is a wonderful quilter, was a part of making this friendship basket quilt with me.  There were seven of us, who passed our chosen fabrics to one another over the course of many months, and we each stitched this beautiful basket design for each other.  Yesterday afternoon, Ellen and I  laid out all of the basket squares and stitched some borders between the baskets.  It is completely hand-stitched, which is my favorite way of stitching quilts.  I know that it is more time consuming, but I find it very peaceful, and I can stitch while I sit comfortably in my recliner.  I don't enjoy hunching over my sewing machine for long periods.  Soon I will have the long strips pieced length wise between each row of baskets and then it will be finished and quilted as a wall hanging.  Can't Wait!


I also finished my "Mystery Sampler" (With Thy Needle & Thread), and selected a rustic looking frame for it. It is currently in the process of being framed.  Hope to have some pictures as soon as the framing is finished !

As I turned the Mystery Sampler over to my favorite framer on Wednesday morning, I decided to begin working on the sweet little pincushion by Primitive Betty's at our LNS stitching group. A little progress so far...


Last weekend, we traveled to Vermont to visit some dear friends, who had experienced power outages and severe flooding in their area.  Would you believe that the flood waters from a brook across from their house, stopped only yards from their front door?  Their next door neighbor had water up over their front porch, but our friend's house was spared.  They say that it was the power of prayers!  The brook washed out a road bridge and the road, just yards from their house was broken up from the rushing water and an entire cliff came down too!  What a sight!  They had construction workers working almost day and night the entire time we were there, and they had been working since the hurricane and heavy rains had subsided.  

This is the West River near their home, with it's rushing water, coming close to the banks, last Sunday.

A beautiful old covered bridge above the rushing currents of the West River.

We had a wonderful weekend with our friends.  I kept telling my friend, Liz and her husband, Rick, that we felt like we were staying in a beautiful little Bed & Breakfast Inn.  Their rooms are very comfortable and cozy, and decorated with all sorts of very special and unique little collectibles everywhere.  Liz has a great collection of little German wooden pieces, which she has gathered over the years, when visiting her cousins in Germany. 

 More cute German figurines, adorable bear collectibles & beautiful "Blue Onion" china pieces.

Liz has an amazing Hummels' collection too.  These are only a few of her favorite ones.  She had a second figure of the little boy with the duck, resting on his feet, and she gave it to me!  I was so thrilled!  I have a few of my own collection, most of which belonged to my dear husband's mother, but they are very special treasures!


And the best is for last.....these are our friend's two beautiful Himalayan cats, Doodles and Elizabeth.

This is Doodles.  Isn't he the perfectly perched cat?  He was so quietly serene and perched anywhere that took his fancy.

Elizabeth is a real beauty.  She has the most amazing eyes....you could get lost in them.  Her favorite place to rest was in the kitchen, atop a little shelf on which she nestled next to a basket.  It was almost too small for her to fit, but she managed to curl up there anyway!

In front of this lovely arrangement, there is a card with a beautiful sentiment written on it.  Here are the words:

This is a beautiful blessing for everyone who visits our friend's home.  It is a blessing to take into one's heart and treasure the words and the sentiments.


I'm counting you, dear friends as blessings in my life, for sharing these quiet moments together with me.  I hope that you have a beautiful week! 


Thank you for visiting.  I cherish your friendship!